... caught another guy red handed. This time it is feeding of pigeons, and there are a few cranes joining in the frenzy.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
yet another feeding
Oh, just I was writing about feeding of stray cats ...
... caught another guy red handed. This time it is feeding of pigeons, and there are a few cranes joining in the frenzy.
... caught another guy red handed. This time it is feeding of pigeons, and there are a few cranes joining in the frenzy.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Dawkins' God Delusion or Dawkins Delusion? and coffee
If you think that I'm going to discuss about The God Delusion and The Dawkins Delusion, then you will be disappointed. Such discussions are for the brainy scientists and devoted theologians. I so happened come across the books ( how can I not, these books are all around books stores from Kino to Popular to ... you know what I mean) and being a cheapo me, loan them free from the library ( actually I paid $1.50 for reserving The God Delusion), when my students and colleagues are into reading these books.
(I've also read snippets of The Selfish Gene by Dawkins as well... hello, I major in physics, not genetics. This is the 1976 classic that made him famous)
These few days have been busy for me, so I just read snippets of them so that I can keep the conversation going. They are actually very interesting read, especially if you read them leisurely and concurrently. But if you were to read for discussion ... that's not my cup of tea.
Instead, I prefer reading them with coffee . And it is in busy days like these that you cherish time alone , however short, at coffee places reading books - those I considered I-would-love-to-read-when-I-have-time aka not-so-important books.
Don't be misled by the posh places, I do drink at coffee shop too. For the ang-moh guide to coffee, here is the post:
http://ykwee.blogspot.com/2007/01/about-coffee-information-you-need-to.html
Here, instead, I shall present the Ways to Mingle through Kopi Tiam Guide:
Kopi- coffee with condensed milk
Kopi O - Black coffee with sugar
Kopi Kosong - Coffee without any sort of milk or sugar.
Kopi C - coffee with evaporated ( unsweetened milk) and sugar.
This is my personal favourite, and that's where things get interesting. When you ask for
Kopi C Siew Dai, you are ordering Kopi with evaporated milk with less sugar. If you want coffee with evaporated milk and more sugar, you would order
Kopi C Ga (pronounce G as in girl not G as in giant) Dai.
If you want it thick add a Gau , or diluted Po , behind.
Add a Peng if you want it cold with ice.
so if you think that it is sophisticated mingling through cafe with latte, macchiato, and cappuccino. Try this:
Kopi C Gau Siew Dai Peng!
.
(I've also read snippets of The Selfish Gene by Dawkins as well... hello, I major in physics, not genetics. This is the 1976 classic that made him famous)
These few days have been busy for me, so I just read snippets of them so that I can keep the conversation going. They are actually very interesting read, especially if you read them leisurely and concurrently. But if you were to read for discussion ... that's not my cup of tea.
Instead, I prefer reading them with coffee . And it is in busy days like these that you cherish time alone , however short, at coffee places reading books - those I considered I-would-love-to-read-when-I-have-time aka not-so-important books.
Don't be misled by the posh places, I do drink at coffee shop too. For the ang-moh guide to coffee, here is the post:
http://ykwee.blogspot.com/2007/01/about-coffee-information-you-need-to.html
Here, instead, I shall present the Ways to Mingle through Kopi Tiam Guide:
Kopi- coffee with condensed milk
Kopi O - Black coffee with sugar
Kopi Kosong - Coffee without any sort of milk or sugar.
Kopi C - coffee with evaporated ( unsweetened milk) and sugar.
This is my personal favourite, and that's where things get interesting. When you ask for
Kopi C Siew Dai, you are ordering Kopi with evaporated milk with less sugar. If you want coffee with evaporated milk and more sugar, you would order
Kopi C Ga (pronounce G as in girl not G as in giant) Dai.
If you want it thick add a Gau , or diluted Po , behind.
Add a Peng if you want it cold with ice.
so if you think that it is sophisticated mingling through cafe with latte, macchiato, and cappuccino. Try this:
Kopi C Gau Siew Dai Peng!
.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Are you sure?!?!
Took this pic at a library. It is an advertisement for English tuition.
I'm not an English expert, and I'm not sure if this is good writing. This seems to me a cut-and-paste from composition samples. And for ONE paragraph with imagery, emotive phrases, alliteration, metaphor, personification and hyperbole ... seems very dense! This is sarcasm . Haa Haa.
I vaguely recall that in my primary school days, in the composition, I always 'run as fast as my legs could carry me' and something that is frightening always 'sent chill down my spine'; in Chinese composition, the rainy days are always '乌云密布, 雷电交加'. But those were the days when essays were graded my the number of idioms you could remember and stitch together.
But I don't think, that's my personal opinion, that this is a way to cultivate creative writing. More importantly, for students today, they must learn to express their thoughts accurately, and also in a tone and style most suited for their audience ( or the purpose of that writing).
Coming from a non English speaking background, I can attest that the memorize-1000-idiom method is not really useful.
For good writing guide, at least for those practical uses, I recommend these two books:
I'm not an English expert, and I'm not sure if this is good writing. This seems to me a cut-and-paste from composition samples. And for ONE paragraph with imagery, emotive phrases, alliteration, metaphor, personification and hyperbole ... seems very dense! This is sarcasm . Haa Haa.
I vaguely recall that in my primary school days, in the composition, I always 'run as fast as my legs could carry me' and something that is frightening always 'sent chill down my spine'; in Chinese composition, the rainy days are always '乌云密布, 雷电交加'. But those were the days when essays were graded my the number of idioms you could remember and stitch together.
But I don't think, that's my personal opinion, that this is a way to cultivate creative writing. More importantly, for students today, they must learn to express their thoughts accurately, and also in a tone and style most suited for their audience ( or the purpose of that writing).
Coming from a non English speaking background, I can attest that the memorize-1000-idiom method is not really useful.
For good writing guide, at least for those practical uses, I recommend these two books:
- The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr ( This is a classic!)
- Style Guide - The Bestselling Guide to English Usage published by The Economist.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Sentosa Flower 2008
After new year visiting ... went to Sentosa with my cousins. Here are the pics taken at the Flower 2008.
I find this sculpture rather interesting:
Tonnes of flowers ...
I find this sculpture rather interesting:
Tonnes of flowers ...
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Bamboo - a CNY post
This picture is from my colleague. She got this picture on a pilgrimage to India. The bamboo grove.
One may ask why I post this picture for the New Year, instead of the usual red, red pics. Hmm...
Most people , at the new year , will make some new year wishes or resolution to work towards, or at least convinced by the media that they should.
However, this year, I beg to differ: For this coming year, I wish that ... I won't have to wish much?!?! In other words - I wish for contentment for peace of mind, hence tranquility; and hence, the reason for this picture - a symbolism for tranquility.
Coincidentally, bamboo （竹）in Chinese sounds like (足), not as in leg, but as in enough, contented, as in 知足长乐.
---------------------
After pondering through what makes a mind disturbed or troubled ...
I have come to a understanding/realization that a pre-requisite for a peace of mind, or at least one of the pre-requisites, is doing the right thing. There is a saying:
But I think doing the right thing is important not only for moral courage, but also for future peace of mind.
Basic cause and effect will us that if I were to be lazy and not do my work properly, or fail to control my budget and splurge on shopping ... one of these days ... trouble will be coming my way.
--------------------------
A bit of advertisement:
if you have not read my reflection on the Scout Hymn, please go to:
http://ykwee.blogspot.com/2007/11/scouting.html
One may ask why I post this picture for the New Year, instead of the usual red, red pics. Hmm...
Most people , at the new year , will make some new year wishes or resolution to work towards, or at least convinced by the media that they should.
However, this year, I beg to differ: For this coming year, I wish that ... I won't have to wish much?!?! In other words - I wish for contentment for peace of mind, hence tranquility; and hence, the reason for this picture - a symbolism for tranquility.
Coincidentally, bamboo （竹）in Chinese sounds like (足), not as in leg, but as in enough, contented, as in 知足长乐.
---------------------
After pondering through what makes a mind disturbed or troubled ...
I have come to a understanding/realization that a pre-requisite for a peace of mind, or at least one of the pre-requisites, is doing the right thing. There is a saying:
Moral Courage is doing the right thing.
But I think doing the right thing is important not only for moral courage, but also for future peace of mind.
Basic cause and effect will us that if I were to be lazy and not do my work properly, or fail to control my budget and splurge on shopping ... one of these days ... trouble will be coming my way.
--------------------------
A bit of advertisement:
if you have not read my reflection on the Scout Hymn, please go to:
http://ykwee.blogspot.com/2007/11/scouting.html
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Ubin again!
A trip to Ubin never fails to amaze me. Manage to catch shot of hornbill on a papaya tree. Wow!
On the way there ... kelong.
A close up of a kelong.
Inside the mangrove, some ships parked there. Not sure if they are serviceable.
Not really a good shot, but there 's a crane or something look-alike at the mud plain at the mangrove swamp.
Stop for lunch at the jetty.
On the way there ... kelong.
A close up of a kelong.
Inside the mangrove, some ships parked there. Not sure if they are serviceable.
Not really a good shot, but there 's a crane or something look-alike at the mud plain at the mangrove swamp.
Stop for lunch at the jetty.
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